Chapter 4: Looking Quite Bold

Meng Xingzhe, Tong Yumo, and Tian Huasheng were each called in for their interviews before it was Yao Jia’s turn.

As she approached the conference room, she caught Tian Huasheng just as he was coming out.

In that brief moment at the door, Tian Huasheng, with his childlike voice sped up like a laser gun, generously began to spill the interview questions to her.

“Don’t worry, they’re just simple routine questions. If you’ve prepared in advance, you’ll definitely be able to answer them. There are about four, five, or six questions, I can’t quite remember. For example, they’ll first ask your name, then ask you to introduce yourself, and then…”

By the time he finished, they had already passed each other, and Yao Jia entered the interview room.

Yao Jia was grateful for Tian Huasheng’s help. But she thought it would have been even better if he had just started with “for example” without all the preamble.

The interviewers were mainly the HR Director and the Manager of the Customer Service Department. Yao Jia sat down in the chair opposite them, feeling as if she were on trial.

For a moment, the rebellious spirit within her almost acted out absurdly—she wanted to be unwavering, to be someone who would rather die than yield, refusing to answer any of their questions no matter what!

But she quickly suppressed those rebellious thoughts.

Whether she wanted the job or not, she had to do it, and she had to stick it out for three months. For the sake of future freedom, for her dignity, and to make her irritable father bow his noble head and say, “Well done, you really did it.”

Tian Huasheng had guessed one question correctly; the first question from the interviewers was indeed, “Please give a brief self-introduction.”

Yao Jia recited her prepared resume, trying to make the mundane details of her 22 years of life sound somewhat engaging.

She managed to get through this question without any major issues.

The second question surprised Yao Jia a bit, as it was practically a freebie for her.

“Do you know who the leader of the company, the Chairman, is?”

—It’s my dad.

Yao Jia arranged her expression into a smile, trying to avoid a fake one. “It’s Mr. Yao Bingkun.” She paused and added, “Coincidentally and fortunately, the Chairman and I share the same surname, Yao.”

She hoped that by mentioning the shared surname herself, it wouldn’t become a point of curiosity for others to probe into any possible familial connections. Sometimes, when you bring up something yourself, it ceases to be a secret others want to uncover.

Unexpectedly, the HR Manager laughed and said, “I don’t know if it’s because leaders with the same surname attract employees with the same surname, but among the interviewees, there are always several people with the surname Yao. This time alone, there are four.”

“…”

Yao Jia thought, well, that was unnecessary.

The next question the interviewer asked Yao Jia was, “Do you understand President Yao Bingkun’s philosophy in running the company?”

Yao Jia hadn’t prepared for this question. She had subconsciously avoided anything related to Yao Bingkun, not wanting to think too much about it.

Yao Jia thought on the spot. Given her irritable father’s dissatisfaction with everything she did, his business philosophy should be—

“There’s no best, only better?”

Or—

“Never be easily satisfied; you can always do better?”

The interviewer smiled, “Your answer isn’t wrong. Our President Yao indeed has those characteristics. However, the more accurate answer is: President Yao believes that industry is the backbone of the economy. Without a solid industrial foundation, the so-called internet mindset cannot stand; it will only be a bubble.”

After hearing the standard answer, Yao Jia suddenly felt a different kind of appreciation.

Her father might be irritable, but his business philosophy was indeed solid and grounded.

The interviewer quickly moved on to the third question.

“What do you think sets our company, Kunyu Electric, apart from our competitor, Jiangfeng Electric?”

This question was within Yao Jia’s range, as Ling Xiaoxin had helped her practice it during a mock interview.

She answered confidently, “Our advantage lies in our superior after-sales service, which is more timely and effective. We never shirk responsibility, which has built a reputation among our customers. When both companies’ products are similar in type, grade, and price, customers tend to choose us because of this added value in service.” She paused, not forgetting to praise the Customer Service Department, “This is precisely the achievement of the Customer Service Department.”

The Customer Service Manager looked at her and nodded with a smile.

Yao Jia answered the subsequent questions smoothly as well.

Finally, the interviewer asked Yao Jia the last question.

“Why did you choose to work at Kunyu Electric?”

—Because of a bet with my dad.

Yao Jia said in her heart.

“Because it’s a good platform that allows for better personal growth,” Yao Jia replied with a standard, non-committal answer.

Both interviewers nodded, which made Yao Jia feel that she might have done well as she left. Without relying on her father, she felt one foot was already in the door at Kunyu Electric.

Leaving the conference room, Yao Jia noticed that the original row of four seats still had the same four people, including herself.

But the seating order had changed.

This time, it was her sitting next to Meng Xingzhe, next to Tian Huasheng, next to Tong Yumo.

Yao Jia didn’t delude herself into thinking that Meng Xingzhe changed seats just to be near her. Most likely, he simply didn’t want to sit next to the incessant questioner any longer.

A few people still hadn’t finished their interviews. Once everyone was done, some would be notified to stay for a written test. Those who passed the test would then proceed to a simple second interview. Those who made it through the second interview would become employees of Kunyu Electric’s client department.

While waiting for the remaining interviews to finish, Yao Jia felt bored. She casually chatted with Meng Xingzhe beside her, asking him trivial questions. “What kind of questions did they ask you in the interview?”

Meng Xingzhe, possibly just as bored, actually answered her.

It turned out they were asked pretty much the same questions.

Yao Jia asked, “Did you get them all right?”

Meng Xingzhe replied, “Yeah.”

Yao Jia continued, “Including the one about Yao Bingkun’s business philosophy?”

Meng Xingzhe said, “Yeah.”

Yao Jia looked at this “yeah” machine, feeling a bit surprised.

—How does he know more about her own father than she does?

Sensing the surprise in her expression, Meng Xingzhe raised an eyebrow. “What, you doubt I got it right?”

Yao Jia waved her hand modestly. “No, no, it just seems like you know the Chairman better than his own kid does.”

Meng Xingzhe glanced at her and started spouting nonsense. “Maybe I am the Chairman’s kid.”

“…” Yao Jia was speechless.

Please shut up, I don’t want a pretentious brother like you.

On the other side, Tong Yumo, who was sitting nearby, kept trying to join in the conversation with Meng Xingzhe, even across Tian Huasheng. Meng Xingzhe simply shifted closer to Yao Jia, crossing one long leg over the other, resting an arm casually on the back of her chair, almost encircling her. His perfectly handsome face was turned towards her, his eyes half-open and half-closed, looking a bit distracted, while his lips were slightly pursed, as if he had something to say but didn’t.

Yao Jia was taken aback.

This posture was too… How could he make it seem like he was treating her as his little sister?

Meng Xingzhe seemed to find the silence awkward and strange, so he raised his other hand and pointed to the ubiquitous Kunyu logo, asking Yao Jia, “What do you think of Kunyu’s logo design?”

Yao Jia quickly bounced the question back. “What do you think?”

Meng Xingzhe immediately frowned. “I asked you first.”

“…”

—Isn’t this the kind of debate I had in kindergarten? How are you still using this tactic at your age? Yao Jia thought to herself.

“I think it’s ugly,” Yao Jia gave up on competing in childishness and answered.

As for why she thought it was ugly, there wasn’t any particular reason. It was just a rebellious feeling against her father. It’s just ugly.

“Compared to the logo you saw next to the fried chicken shop that day?” Meng Xingzhe continued to ask.

“That one’s still uglier,” Yao Jia replied swiftly. That logo was so hideous, she couldn’t in good conscience say otherwise.

Meng Xingzhe’s brow furrowed even more.

“I think Kunyu’s logo is uglier,” he said, almost enunciating each word.

As Yao Jia looked up, she saw her irritable father, Yao Bingkun, leading some subordinates past the meeting room.

She heard the interviewees whispering excitedly, “Look! That’s the Chairman of Kunyu! So imposing!”

“Look at the people following him, all in suits, they look so elite!”

“I’m envious! I wonder when I can be like them, walking grandly behind the Chairman.”

“The Chairman has such a strong presence! Ah, the Chairman is looking over here, isn’t he? Ah, he turned away…”

Yao Jia saw Yao Bingkun glance at her before moving his gaze away, as if saying: Useless, let’s see how long you can last.

She suddenly turned her head, decisively and firmly telling Meng Xingzhe, “I’ve reassessed, and you’re right, Kunyu Electric’s logo is indeed uglier. No, it’s the ugliest, the ugliest in the world.”

Yao Jia saw the expression on Meng Xingzhe’s face relax and brighten, his eyes seemed to ripple with amusement. This made him look even more damn handsome.

Yao Jia was taken aback, feeling an inexplicable illusion that Meng Xingzhe was showing off his looks from his most attractive angle.

…He’s such a flirt.

※※※※※※

Meng Xingzhe was very pleased after confirming that Kunyu Electric’s logo was uglier than the one he designed.

While he was feeling pleased, his phone suddenly vibrated energetically in his pocket.

It was a message from Bei Luonan.

“By the way, let me remind you, during the written test later, don’t answer according to your true thoughts. You must answer the opposite of what you think, remember!”

“What do you mean?” Meng Xingzhe replied.

Bei Luonan: “I mean, you’re too critical. If you answer according to your criticisms, you’re doomed. You have to do the opposite.”

After a pause, another message came: “For example, I found this question online: If a complaint is not the company’s fault, the customer service doesn’t need to apologize to the customer. How would you answer?”

Meng Xingzhe typed: “Makes sense. If it’s not the company’s fault, why rush to apologize? Is that being servile?”

Bei Luonan: “See, you got it wrong. The correct answer is that you still need to apologize. You should tell the customer you’re sorry for the unpleasant shopping experience. I know you’re going to ask why, and it’s because that’s how this job is defined. If you don’t like it, tough luck. Remember, think the opposite of what you would naturally do, and answer that way!”

Meng Xingzhe replied impatiently, “Got it, stop nagging.”

Yet, Bei Luonan sent another message.

“By the way, I just remembered, didn’t you say that if you ever ran into that girl with the ponytail again, you wouldn’t let her off the hook? You wanted her to be smitten with you, and then you’d heartlessly ignore her, right?”

Meng Xingzhe angled his phone screen away so Yao Jia next to him couldn’t see, and typed.

With each keystroke, his confidence surged: “The plan is almost complete. Just now, the way she looked at me, it was clear she was almost captivated.”